Job Doc chat transcript

About Our Guest
Elaine Varelas is a career expert with over 20 years experience in career management consulting. Elaine is managing partner of Keystone Partners, a career management firm headquartered in Boston. She also writes the Hire Authority column for the Boston.com/Monster Hiring Hub.

Elaine Varelas: It's time to chat! Send your career questions in, and we'll see how we can help.

brc44: Is it a bad time to look for a new job (i have about 3 years exp. at a tech company) because of all the college seniors entering the job market? How does a person best compete against those coming out of college?

Elaine Varelas: It can always be a good or bad time to look for a job.

Elaine Varelas: Your focus needs to be on why they should hire you, not on what you have that college seniors have. They would think you have more experience so are more marketable.

Elaine Varelas: With three years behind you your focus in knowing how to work, khnowing how to get along with colleagues, making your manager look good, and being very self sufficnet, in addition to having great work experience.

mrchongo: I'm about to apply for a position for which I am well qualified, but I'm a little "old-school" when it comes to the application progress. You know, I'm all: submit the resume with the cover letter; wait for the email response; hope you get an interview; etc, etc. Tell me: What is most recent application procedure paradigm: Text msg the hiring manager; invite her to chat; spruce up you Facebook page? Where is the fine line between the old reliable application and the more interesting model?

Elaine Varelas: What a great question! Old school doesn't cut it anymore, but being respectful of peoples time, and careful of your image does.

Elaine Varelas: Waiting while a job seeker is also not the most effective way to get the job either.

Elaine Varelas: If you are responding to an ad, follow the directions... email a resume with letter, ANd start networking your way to other poeple.

Elaine Varelas: Recognize that people will look for information about you on the web. They will google you, check to see if you are on any business or social networking pages, so make sure "your e-house" is in order.

Nyc: I left my medical assistant job after 6 yrs. now doing home daycare and not really liking it. Wondering if I should find a full time job and go back to school for Nursing or should I stick out the whole day care thing. It has only been about 5 mo.

Elaine Varelas: 5 months is not that long to test out a career, but my guess is you know that you are not in the right place. Nursing opportunities will be at an all time high in the coming years. The challenge right now is getting into nursing school as there are very few openings based ona shortgae of instructors.

Elaine Varelas: Take a look at all the places you can get a BSN, or an LPH. Many organizations will help you pay to go back to school if you commit to working there for some extended time after you get your degree.

nsxn: Hi, I just took a new position with a company. However the day after I started another employer I prefer to work for contacted me for an interview. Should I interview with this 2nd company or just stick it out for a year with my current one?

Elaine Varelas: Is this the when it rains it pours question? This early on the job, I would take the interview. Be careful about when you schedule the time, and be very respectful of how quickly you can make any change happen. Your current employer won't be happy if you leave, and make sure it is a better job and a better organization.

Elaine Varelas: Looking at your options is fair, and so much time has not gone by that they can't recapture other candidates for the job should you leave.

brgunder1: I have just returned from Iraq and am looking to quickly join the private sector. Can you recommend any job placement companies which specialize in placing military officers

Elaine Varelas: Thank you for your service, and welcome back. I beleive the state has instituted placement services for returning military staff. I encourage you to contact the One Stop Career Centers. There may be placement agencies with that specialty that I don't know of - maybe some chatters can fill us in.

Elaine Varelas: Checking with genral agencies is a good place to start, as well as your network.

Pallykin: I recently filled out an on-line application for a job that I feel I am very well qualified for. It's a position at a University in Cambridge. I think I know what the salary should be for a position like this, but I was hesitant to put down anything in the salary requirement box. Is that appropriate? I was a "close second" for a position at the same University two years ago, and I believe the deciding factor was that nobody realized until late in the game, that I would have had to take a large salary cut to fit within their budget. Now I am cautious - I don't want to waste their time or mine interviewing for a postion that has a salary that is not viable, but at the same time, I don't want to undervalue myself so that an offer is lower than it might otherwise have been. In the past, I was given a verbal offer, and then the salary was reduced when they realized it would be "too big a raise" from my previous salary. I took the job, but always wondered if I was the lowest paid person there.

Elaine Varelas: You got hit by both sides of this issue.

Elaine Varelas: Your instincts to know the salary is right. Doing the research is where you get the most current data. I'm not sure I've ever heard the "too big a raise" issue raised after an offer was made.

Elaine Varelas: I have heard it while deliberating over a candidate hire. For online applications, I'd put in a salary range. It should be based on the reseach, and based on the specific question. Were you asked what you were making, or what the range you'd consider taking? Be careful to answer the right question.

Elaine Varelas: And remember - all salary negotiation needs to be done face to face preferably, or at lest over the phone - not electronically.

John: After having already submitted my resume and cover letter for a "dream job" I saw advertised on Craigslist, I'm wondering if it is acceptable to check on the status of my application with the employer directly (via a phone call)? I applied one week ago.

Elaine Varelas: Showing your enthusiam for what you see as a dream job is always a good idea. One week is not a long time, but I'd encourage you to follow up, and see who else you might now that can help guarantee you an interview.

joan: I have had 15+ years in accounting and would like to change careers. What is the best way to get into another career. I'mnot sure I know what I want to do. Where can I get career testing or counseling? Thanks!

Elaine Varelas: Some of the most successful career changes I have seen have changed functions within their current company. Are there internal opportunities you are interested in exploring? Look at these first where you are a known commodity, and trusted.

Elaine Varelas: Working with a good career counselor can be very valuable - especially if you know you wnat a change but you aren't clear on what you might want to change to. Asking your colleagues who they might have worked with, or using the Career Counselors COnsortium or the International Association of Career Practicitioners will get you started to make good connections.

Randall: Elaine, I have been employed by my small family business for 15 years. Business is slowly dying and I am considering trying to move to another job. How do I go about estimating my worth when I have never been anywhere else? Second, while here, you kind of do a lot of everything, how do you properly work that into a resume?

Elaine Varelas: Family business positions are always lots of this and that - it's all about what needs to be done, and hiring managers appreciate that in any person they are looking at hiring.

Elaine Varelas: Try and take apart your role so you can compare it to any other (non-family run) business. Based on what you were responsible for, what would the equivalent title be? And the comp?

Elaine Varelas: Network through similar sized businesses to get a better understanding of the issues that you share, or those that are compounded because it is family run.

Elaine Varelas: The resume needs to be reflective of what you did, what you had sole responsibility for and what was shared. Readers of resumes are very understanding of the messages you are trying to deliver in 2 pages.

lunchbreak12: How much does wardrobe really matter in an interview? If i am not wearing a suit but look clean cut, will i lose out to a guy who can afford 500 bucks on a nice suit?

Elaine Varelas: Wardobe does matter in an interview. But you don't need a $500 suit. You need one presentable suit and there are plenty of great dicount retailers where you can make this happen for $179. You need a few dress shirts (2 or 3) and 2 or 3 ties. It's a reasonable investment even if you aren't going to wear a suit on the job everday.

Elaine Varelas: People want to know you are taking the situation seriously, and this is part of what shows that. I know money is tight, but I encourage you to at least wear a jacket, and shine your shoes. Impressions really do matter.

Pallykin: In salary negotiations, I have been told that "we can only offer 10% over what you're making now". Since I was underpaid, this continued that trend. Is there a tactful way to decline to give my current salary?

Elaine Varelas: If an interviewer wants to get the compensation question answered they will so it is best not to play around. But you can say, my compensation was in the "xxx" range, and working for a small non profit or a whatever, I was somewhat underpaid. My research shows the average comp for a role like this is.... What is your range for the position?

Elaine Varelas: The company didn't set the compensation around what you used to make. They set it based on the value of the job to the organization. Be prepared with hard data, and a positive attitude about negotiating. A six month review may also help.

Maine: Hello, I have a Masters Degree and live in Maine. There are not many job opportunities in my field in Maine but I have been successful at a couple of businesses I have started. I have had my resume professionally done but I am not even getting called back for interviews. Do you have any recommendations?

Elaine Varelas: I love Maine - I'm an Ocean Park fan myself, but back to business... Congratulations on being an entrepreuneur. Many organizations welcome someone with your background because you know what it takes to get the job done.

Elaine Varelas: I hope you worked with a career counselor who understood how to translate your expertise into what will make you a valuable employee, and you have a clear message on why you are interested in coming back "in house".

Elaine Varelas: Try working the network. Get their reactions to your resume. Are you targeting the right level jobs? Are you following up to express your interest?

Elaine Varelas: Typically a headhunter will give you a very clear reaction to whether they see your background and resume as markletable or not. Don't overlook them.

l: I left my job in technology to start a franchise 2 years ago. Unfortunately the franchise didnt work out. Now when I either apply or have an interview the employer fears I'll be a know it all or that I'll leave again to start another company. How can I overcome this objection?

Elaine Varelas: If you are going to be a know it all, that comes across in the first interview, so how you respond to what happened with the franchise and why you'd like to come back into an organization need to be great answers. Believable, and clearly articulated. Do you plan to leave and start another company? If not, say so. If yes, you may want to discuss a 5 year plan to save some cash, develop new skills and learn from the organization you want to join. No one expects you to stay forever, but the do expect to get a return form hiring and training a new person.

mx2: Hi. I am a mother to 2 young kids (oldest is 2), now back to work only 4 days per week but feel pressure (mostly from myself) to produce at my 5 day/no kid rate. And lately have had projects pop up that are important yet interefere with my "regular" work. So I feel behind a lot. My boss is great, and hasn't ever complained, yet I feel subliminal pressure. I am at the highest level in my dept, so I want to be sure I stay where I am. What advice do you have as to how to accomplish this at a 4 day work week?

Elaine Varelas: Would you ever have these expectations of your best friend? Give yourself a break. And I know hard that is to do.

Elaine Varelas: You are feeling pressured, and it is self driven. Your boss hasn't complained, so now is the time to initiate a conversation. Don't wait until their is a complaint. You may need to discuss reprioritizing your work as new work pops up. Keeping your manager current on what you are doing, and what your focus will be on next, may help ease your stress.

Elaine Varelas: I think you also need a conversation about what 80% of your job should look like. You need that 5th day for you, your kids, and with no guilt over the other 4 days.

Elaine Varelas: We have about 10 more minutes for Q's and A's and comments. No little Q's here - feel free to ask!

LeonardTaylor: Moving back to the US after working in EU for 3+ years. I have an MA and work for a global computer company. My efforts to secure a job online before I move back to the US have not produced, what needs to be done?

Elaine Varelas: Global job searches have their own challenges, and expecting the entire process to happen online is unrealistic. Working with regional offices or regional staff to look at opportunities elsewhere is one of the best ways to move your way into an organization.

Elaine Varelas: If you can set up local meetings with company reps who can then arrange phone meetings, or meetings where senior staff are traveling to closer to where you are, many times they will try and make these happen. Try and get as close as you can to real opportunities, and persue them even more strongly once you are here.

lawyerguy: I'm an attorney, and not happy with my job at all.Ii really want to be more creative and autonomous and have a positive effect onthe world... any suggestions

Elaine Varelas: I get it - You hate it. Many attorneys feel the same way. That may not help you feel better, but consider that being an attorney is also about having a great education. There are many jobs you can do that may not involve working at a law firm, but do utilize your background. First - can you change the type of law you practice?

Elaine Varelas: Do you want to be some kind of advocate? Do you want to be a mediator? Do you want to run a non-proft that provides some kind of legal services?

Elaine Varelas: Working with a career counselor might be the right next move for you to help you figure out what you want to go to - as opposed to what you want to get away from.

JediFonger: What factors accelerate that average timeline from starting to look for a job to getting a job? Say, you do networking, resume, on/offline searching, keep ALL options opened, etc.

Elaine Varelas: How much you network, and how good you are it are the most impactful to finding a job. If you are likeable, verbal, positive, talented, reasonable person it helps. If you don't like to meet people, aren't positive when you do, have unreasonable salary expectations, or commute requiremnets, it will take longer!

Atsoor: 25 year old currently attending night school for my bachelors degree. I need to work full time, and am getting laid off at the end of the month. How do I get people to look past the fact that I am a student? I have 5 years general office experience, but can't get any responses to jobs I've applied for.

Elaine Varelas: Why would you want people to look past your being a student? I see a really motivated person who is working and studying to further themselves. Sounds good to me.

Elaine Varelas: Have the school help you with their alumns, and balance out what it is you are looking for in the job.

Elaine Varelas: Thanks so much chatters - It' time to close. Great to be with you all, and best of luck in all your career objectives.